Francesca's Artful Pomegranate Mirror

Pomegranates are my favourite fruit - they take me back to my childhood when they were the most exotic fruit to be had. And how can an embroiderer contemplate one and not think of Catherine of Aragon? Here is a pomegranate of exceptional beauty worked by Francesca who lives in Rome.

The design and its layout on the mirror cover is quite perfectly conceived - a special bow indicates where the mirror should be opened. sadly it appears that one of the pearls has become detached in post but hopefully it can be restored once the mirror is back home with Francesca.

The shading and dimensionality of this work is so subtle that it is not at all obvious from a first glance just how professionally it has been executed. I particularly like the inroduction of a bronze shade into the orange of the pomegranate - that was not a safe thing to do - but it was absolutely the right thing to do - lifting its whole appearance. The total attention to detail in the setting of threads is an object lesson in patience and precision. This is a most admirable mirror and well-deserving of its prize. Congratulations, Francesca!

Rose's Mirror To Her Art

Rose from San Dimas, California produced this exquisitely covered antique mirror in response to the Needleprint challenge. It is totally bewitching and a mirror any girl would love to have and we must envy Rose's daughter to whom the mirror has been promised. What a special heirloom this is!

I find the choice of palette absolutely charming with its medium toned pastel hues - it strikes me as perfect for the subject. Here you can see in closer detail just how those colours are worked together to give a rich surface. Metallic thread has been used to construct the edging lace, which is further embellished with shivering sequins, catching the light from all directions. The lace is carefully balanced by the touches of gold thread work in the main design.

Here perhaps you can see the true wonder of the work here - the detached leaves that have been worked over silver wire which shimmers through beautifully. No wonder Rose's mirror was judged a prize-winner.

Mirror Images - Dianne From Australia

Dianne's solution to the Mirror To My Art challenge was to make an embroidered purse for her mirror, using an early 17th century coif (F369) in the Micheál and Elizabeth Collection as inspiration.

It is when you see such a piece, brilliant with new gilt threads, than you can begin to appreciate the wonder of having a coif wrought in this way - it would have been no every-day head covering - how it must have appeared in the candle light! These beautiful coiling designs alive with birds, blooms and butterflies recall in their details the amazingly carved Trees of Life of 11th century Tulaytula - Spanish Toledo - when under Arabic rule. Transfered to later Castilian rulers, is this how the patterns came to England?

Below you can see the incredibly skilful working of the metallic threads which caused the judges to gasp, and me now to hold my breath. What a fabulous piece this is and it is such a privilege to have been able to marvel at it, even for a short time. A truly worthy prize-winner.

Ann Davies * Saltaire * Yorkshire

If you are ever up in the West Riding of Yorkshire be sure not to miss a visit to Sir Titus Salt's model textile-workers village of Saltaire which is a World Heritage site. I have many attachments to this place, since as a family we would arrive there on Sundays en route for rambles over neighbouring moorlands. Sir Titus Salt, the founder of the village, was the philanthropist responsible for endowing my education. And a friend from many years' back (now sadly dead) was responsible for saving Salt's Mill from dereliction.

While on a recent visit to see what was new in the art galleries and museum, I came across the work of a local artist on display in one of the shops and I have to say her work took my eye.

Ann recently gave up her work as an intensive-care nurse, to spend more time working at her art. Here you can see some examples of her mixed-media textile pieces which are meticulously worked with great attention to detail.

And these dolls of hers just made me smile from ear to ear. To see more of Ann's work, just click here.